Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack has called for consideration of the commission’s investigative powers during constitutional reform, saying the absence of a general mechanism to compel attendance in certain circumstances can hamper investigations.
Hack raised the issue on Tuesday during an ERC constituency consultation at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, according to a release from the commission.
He said the limitation could present challenges and delay investigations, and urged consideration of whether the existing legal framework provided the powers and safeguards needed for the ERC to discharge its responsibilities effectively.
The consultation brought together representatives of the commission’s ten constituencies, civil society, the diplomatic corps, other constitutional commissions and members of the public to discuss matters relevant to the ERC’s mandate.
The commission said it would review and consolidate the contributions into a report for submission to the Constitution Reform Commission (CRC) before the December 31 deadline. The report will also include recommendations drawn from the ERC’s institutional experience.
In his opening remarks, Hack said constitutional reform should reflect the experiences, concerns and aspirations of Guyanese across the country. He described the Constitution as a living document which must continue to earn public confidence and encouraged participation from every community and constituency.
The discussions examined equality of opportunity, protection against discrimination, ethnic security, participation in national life and harmonious relations among ethnic groups.
Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, a former chairman of the Constitution Reform Commission, delivered a presentation on Guyana’s constitutional development, the objectives of the current reform exercise and public participation.
He traced the country’s constitutional development from Independence through the adoption of the 1980 Constitution and subsequent reform initiatives, examining questions of participation and the legitimacy of constitutional arrangements.
Ramkarran and ERC Legal Officer Seeta Bishundial subsequently facilitated discussions in which participants exchanged views and proposed recommendations.
The consultation also considered the latest draft of the ERC’s Glossary of Ethnically Sensitive Terms, intended as a public education resource on how language and context can affect relations among communities.
ERC Commissioner Neaz Subhan, who chairs its Media and Public Relations Subcommittee, said words and expressions could be interpreted differently depending on context and individual experience. Terms considered acceptable by some could be offensive to others, including persons of the same ethnic background.
Participants offered differing views on the draft, including how particular expressions should be treated and the importance of context.
Subhan said the glossary had benefited from input from University of Guyana experts and was being circulated for further discussion and feedback before finalisation and publication.
The ERC said it would also publish the CRC feedback form on its social media platforms to allow persons who could not attend the consultation to submit their views online.
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